Gas-producer.



E. A. W. IEFFERIES.

GAS PRODUCER. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I6. 1914.

1,251,039. Patented Dee. 25,1917.

NITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

- EBENEZER A. W. JEFFERIES, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TOMORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION0F- MASSACHUSETTS.

GAS-PRODUCER.

' Specification of-Letters Patent. Patented Dec; 25, 1917. Originalapplication led August 2, 1913, Serial No. 782,561. Divided and thisapplication ledDecen-i'ber 18, 1914. `Serial No. 877,488.

To all 'whom 'it may concern Be itknown that LEBENEZER A. lV. JEF- irevision of means-for evening or smooth` ing the surface of the bed of'el in a gas producer, and' for agitating said surface to prevent boththe caking of-the fuel by fusion, and the4 formation 'of-openings, orpipes, through the massf the same. The

subject-matter of the invention is shownand described in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 782,561, filed August 2, 1913, of`

which the presentappliation is a division.

The efficient operation of a gas -producer is, to aj great degree,dependent upon the maintenance in the combustion chamber thereof, of abed of fuel subantially homogeneous in character and of uniformthickness throughout, whereby the blast of air, or

air and steam, which is forced through ,the

fuel to support the combustion thereof, may permeate the same uniformlyand thoroughly, in order to keep the combustion uniform. The ordinary'methods of feeding fuel to a gas producer, through a hop er, or thelike, contribute naturally to the ormation of a more or less uneven bedof fuel upon the grate. As a result, the combustion of such fuel tendsto render the fuel bed solid and substantially impenetrable in someportions, while other portions become more or less cellular incharacter. By reason of the unequal distribution of theblast, and thenonuniformity of the combustion, under these conditions, the quality andquantity of the gas generated by the producer is seriously impaired.

TheJ present; invention provides a means for overcoming the abovedescribed difficulties of operation, whereby the generation of gas iscarried on at the maximum eiciency) and Without substantial variation inquantity. The apparatus constituting my 4'invention lis fully set forthin the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure lis a vertical sectional vfiew -of so much ofa as` producer as is necessary to disclose my lnvention.

'Fig' 2 is a fragmentary same.

Similar reference characters refer to similar partsin both figures.` 'l

The gas producer shown in the drawing comprises a fuel containingsection 1, which is supported by any suitable devices, not

shown, to permit of its rotation, by means of an annulai` rack 2 and aWorm 3. The wall of section .1 provides an annulariwater chamber 4, openat the p. Communicating withthe section 1, and concentric therewith, theproducer has a stationary upper section 5, supported ient manner, notshown, and having a depending apron 6 which extends below the level ofthe water in chamber 4 to provide a seal against the escape of gasesfrom the y gas chamber inelosed by said sections. The

top of section -is closed by a cover plate in" any convenside view ofthe preferably provided with lmeans for sup# porting' a body of Water,to prevent over'- heating.- The cover plate 7 has an opening 8 for theintroduction of fuel to the section 1; and said plate supports a hopperor fuel feeding device 9 in operative position with respect to opening 8and having means, consisting of an annular apron 10, for forming a waterseal against the escape of' gases through said opening. The stationarysection 5 also has a suitable outlet opening, not shown, for the'delivery of the gases gen' erated by the-combustion of fuel within thesection y The wall of section 5, near its lower end, is provided, inopposite sides, with alined openings, for the reception of a pair ofbearing castings 1l, l1, which are preferably maintained cool by thecirculation of Water through their hollow portions 12. Alineg bearingapertures extending through sai .castings 11 provide for the pivoting 0fthe allel lcrank arms 15. Saidcentral or cranked portion, which iscapable of swinging freely about the horizontal axis aorded by its ends13, 13, rests, by gravity, upon the surface of the fuel bed in thesection, causing the crank arms 15 to lie at an incline, as shown in Fi2. The axis of the bearings 11, 11 may, i desired, coincide with adiameter of the producer; preferably, however, Said axis is slightlyoffset from a diameter of the producer in order that the cranked orcentral lportion of the member 14, may, when themean level of fuel insection 1 is .at an average height, make contact with the same at ornear a diameter of the producer.

Flexible inlet and outlet pipes 16 and 17, connected to the ends 13 ofthe tubular member 14, provide for a circulation of water therethroughto prevent undue heating of theportions which are subject to severe heatwithin the producer. One ofthe ends 13 of tends loosely through astandard 23, and has threaded on its u per end, beyond said standard, ah-and w eel 24.

In the operation of the producer, the horizontal cranked portion of themember 14 rests upon the surface of the fuel in a diametrical, or nearlydiametrical, position, dependent u on the vlevel to which the fuel hasrisen in t e section 1. The constant rotation of the section 1 bringsevery portion ofv the surface of the fuel bed under the influence ofsaid member, thereb effecting the desired agitation of said sur ace, andleveling andsmoothing the same to render the bed of fuel homogeneousthroughout and of uniform thickness. It is obvious that the fessureexerted upon the fuel by the mem'- Eer 14 is dependent upon the leverageof the weight 20.; and that this leverage, determined by the horizontaldistance of said weight from the axis of the bearings 11, may be variedby sliding the Weight along the arm 18, or by changing the angulardisposition of said arm.

As the thickness of the fuel bed varies,

and its surface rises and falls, it is apparentA of the crank arms 1,5.The vertical component of said circular movement coincides with thechange in the mean height of the fuel bed, as will be apparent.

The swinging of the member 14, in response to changes in the thicknessofthe fuel bed, moves the rod '21 throu h the standard 24. By adjustingthe han wheel 23 inwardly upon said rod, so as to engage with the upperend of said standard, the downward swinging movement of the member 14may be limited, and. as a consequence, the said member may be preventedfrom di ging too deeply into the surface of the fue I .claim- 1. In agas producer, means for supporting abcd of fuel, a member` ivoted at oneend about a horizontal axis lying above said bed, and resting by gravityat its other end' on the surface of said bed whereby said other 'endrises and falls in response to changes in thickness of lsaid bed, vandmeans for causin between said bed and said member.

2. In a gas producer, meansfor supporting a bed of fuel, a pivotallysuspended member having its free end resting by gravit on the surface ofsaid bed, whereby said ree end relative traversing movement rises andfalls in response tochanges in the thickness of said bed, and means forcausin a relative traversing movement between sai bed and said member.

3. In a gas producer, a fue] section, fuel eveningmeans within saidfuel-section comprisiii a pivoted member adapted to contact with thesurface of the fuel in said sec-I tion, means for supporting said memberto adjust itself to thelevel of the fuel in said section, and' means forcausing a relative traversing movement between the surface of the fueland said member.

4. In a gas producer, a fuel section, a piv- -oted fuel evener withinsaid fuel section automatically movable in response to changes in thelevel of the fuel within said section, and means for 'causin relativetraversing movement between sai evener and the surface of the fuel. Y

5. In a gas producer, means for supporting a bed f fuel, an elementoperative with respect to the surface of said bed for smoothing andevening the same, means for pivotally supporting said element forvertical selfadjustment in response to changes in 'the level ofsaid bed,and means for causing a relative traversing movement between said bedand said member.

6. In a gas producer, means for supporting a bed of fuel, means forfeeding fuel to said bed during the operation of the pro ducer, a fuelcvener resting by gravity on the surface of said bed, and 'adapted toadjust itself to changes in the thickness of said bed, means for varyingthe pressure of said fuel evener against the surface of said bed,

and means for causing relative travelrsing movement between said fuelevener and saidbed.

7. In a gas producer, a. fuel section, a pivoted member havino its freeend supported by the surface of 'the fuel in said fuel seetions,meansfor varyingtlie pressure of said free 'end against the surface of saidfuel, and means for causing relative traversing movement between saidmember and the surface of the fuel.

8. Iii a gas producer, means for supporting a bed-of fuel, means forfeeding fuel to said bed during the operation of the producer, fuelevening means effective with respect. to' the surface of said Vbed andresting by gravity thereon, means for constraining the vertical movementof said means about a fixed axis in responseto changes in tl'icthickness of said bed, and means for effecting a relative traversingmovement between said fuel evening meansand the surface of said bed.

9. In a gas producer, fuel evening leans in contact with the surface ofthe fuel bed, said means being movable in a circular arc in response tchanges in the thickness of said bed, and means for causing relativetraversing movement between said bed and said fuel evening means.

10. In a gas producer,fuel evening means in contact with the surface ofthe fuel bed, and movable in a circular arc'in response to changes inthe thickness of said bed, the vertical component of such movementcorresponding to the change in the level of said bed, and means forcausing relative traversing movement between said bed and said fuelevening means. c

11. In a gas producer', :i fuel section, a U- shaped fuel evener restingby gravity on the surface of the fuel bed with the ends of its arms'turned outwardly and pivoted in-horizontal bearings to allow its lowerportion to swing into contact with the surface of the fuel in the fuelsection` and means for causing relative rotation between the fuelsection and the evener to cause the evcner to move along the surface ofthe fuel.

12. In a producer, a fuel section, a U- shaped fuel evcner with the endsof its arms turned outwardly1 and pivoted in horizontal bearings toallow its central portion.to swing into contact with the surface of thefuel in thc fuel section. a lever cxtendinglaterally from the cvencr` aweight carried by the lever to increase tht,` pressure of the cvenerupon the sur'tacclo-i' die fuel. and means for causing relative rotationbetween the fuel section and' the cvcncr to cause the cvener to movepver the. Vsurface of the fuel.

1?). In a. gas producer, a fuel section, a U- shaped fuel'evener restingby gt avity on thc surface of the fuel bed with' the ends of its armsturned outwardly and pivoted in horizontal bearings to allow its centralportion to swing into contact with the surface of the fuel in the fuelsection, means Ato limit the swing of thc evcner toward the fuel, andmeans for causing relative rotation of the .fuel section and the evenerto cause the evene; tp move along thc surface of the fuel.

l-t. In a ga; producer, means for supporting a bed of fuel, means forfeeding fuel to said bed during the operation of tli'c producer, a fuelevener ctfective with respect to the surface of said bed and adapted toadjust itself to the level assumed by said surface, and m'cans fori'arying the pressure of said fuel cvcncr against the surface of saidbed. l 15. ln a gas producer, a fuel section, means for feeding fuel tosaid fuel section during the operation of the producer, a pivot edmember having' its free end supported by the surface of the fuel m saidfuel scctiou. and means for varying the pressure ot said free endagainst the surface of said fuel.

ltl. In a gasprtidncer, means for supporting a bed of fuel, means forfeeding fuel to said bed during the operation of the producer, fuelevening means effective with respect 'to thc surface of said bed andresting by gravity thereon, means for constraining the vertical movementof said means about a fixed axis as the ldtel of the bed of fuel risesand falls, and means for effecting a rclativetravcrsing movementbctweeii said fuel evening means and the surface of said bed.

17. Inv a gas producer, means for supporting a bedof fuel, a memberpivoted at one end about a-horizontal axis above said'bed, and restingby gravity at its other end on the surface of said bed, and means forcausing relative movement between said bed and said member. i

1S. In a gasprot'lucer,V means for supporting a bed of fuel` apivotlally suspended member having its free end resting by gravity onthe surface of said bed, and means for causing a Yrelative traversingmovement between said bed and saidl member.

19. In a gas piodlucer, means for supporting a bed of fuel, a. fuelevening means in contact witlrthc surface of said bed and having asubstantially diametrical disposition with rcspcct to said* surface,said fuel evening means being movable in a circular arc in response t'ochanges in the thickness of said bed` and means for causing a relativetravelsing movement between said bed and said fuel evening mcaiis.

20. gas' producer connirising a shell adapted to contain a fuel bed, aswinging chargc-agitating member extending through said ,-,hcll into thefuel brd :nid instructed to aiuomalically adjust itself to the height ofsaid bed, and n'icans for ctl'cct ing relative rotary motion betweensaid fuel bed and member.

2l. i gas producer comprising a shell y .Copies of vthis patent my beobtained for adapted to contain a fuel bed, a substantially U-Shapedcharge-agitating member extending through said shell into the fuel bedand constructed to automatically adjust its'elf to the height of saidbed, and means for effecting relative rotary motion between said fuelbed and member. v V

'22. A as producer having means for feeding fuel thereto, during thevoperation of the producer, having an agitator playing freely.vertically in operation, means exerting downward pressure onl theagitator and moans causing relative horizontal travel between theagitator and the coal While gas is being produced therein.

:23. A- gas producer having a vertically swinging agitator playingfreely and means causing relative horizontal travel between the agitatorand the coal.

24. A gas producer'having means for'feeding fuel thereto during theoperation of the producer having an agitator playing freely vertically,an adjustable Weight exertn downward pressure on 4the agitator and meanscausing relative horizontal motion between the agitator and the' coalWhile gas is being produced therein EBENEZER A.AW.JEKFFER1ES. Y

.Witnessesz y HAnRmTTn D. MANN, .W'ILLARD A'. WINN.

ve cents exwh,V by addressing the .Commilsloner of latent:Wnh1i||ton,1l.0. j v

